BORN HULL 20/6/1898. SON OF GEORGE BELL (1847-1906) AND SOPHIA ANN FOSTER (1856-1908). HIS SISTER, GRACE LIVED AT 34 , PAISLEY STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS) AND WAS HIS NEXT OF KIN. HE WAS LOST AT SEA, AGED 19.
HIS NAME IS LISTED ON THE TRINITY HOUSE SCHOOL, GREAT WAR MEMORIAL, GEORGE STREET, HULL.
HMT Robert Smith, built by Alexander Hall & Co. Ltd., Aberdeen in 1915 and operated at the time of her loss by Royal Navy, was a British navy trawler of 211 tons. On July 21st, 1917, HMT Robert Smith was sunk by gunfire by the German submarine U-44 (Paul Wagenführ). All hands, 25 in total were killed.
1. BARKSBY, HERBERT (29), Trimmer Cook (no. 789TC), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of John and Hannah Barksby, of Seaham Colliery; husband of Mary Ann Lawless (formerly Barksby), of 31, Frederick St., Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 2. BELL, FRANK , Deck Hand (no. 12450DA), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 3. BOYCE, JOE , Seaman (no. 1969C), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of Thomas and Ellen Boyce of Balbriggan, County Dublin, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 4. GERRARD, ERNEST DUNDAS (27), Lieutenant, HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of Joseph Dundas Gerrard, and Mary Elizabeth Gerrard, of Sunderland; husband of Alice Gerrard of 10, Addison St., Hendon Rd., Sunderland, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 5. GILLIES, RODERICK (35), Seaman (no. 3560B), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of John and Flora Gillies, of Mingulay, Barra; husband of Mary Macdougall Gillies, of Caolis, Vatersay, Barra, Inverness-shire, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 6. GRAHAM, NORMAN (20), Seaman (no. 7888A), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of Sergt. Murdo Graham and Henrietta Graham, of Flesherin, Portnaguran, Stornoway, Ross-shire, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 7. GREEN, JOHN WILLIAM (22), Telegraphist (no. TynesideZ/3585), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of George and Caroline Green, of 7, Elm St., Middlesbrough, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 8. HAMMANS, JOHN JAMES (20), Signalman (no. London Z/1756), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of Annie Sarah Hammans, of 69, Queen’s Rd., Clarendon Park, Leicester, and the late Charles William Hammans, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 9. HITCHCOCK, HAROLD JOHN (21), Deck Hand (no. 653SD), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of William Henry and Ellen Hitchcock, of 10, Teign View Terrace, Teignmouth, Devon, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial 10. HORNER, GEORGE ROBERT (26), Trimmer (no. 5615TS), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of George and Ellen Homer, of 63, Gordon St., Amble, Northumberland. Native of Warkworth, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 11. JOHNSTON, ANDREW (33), Leading Seaman (no. 3798B), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of James and Joan Johnston, of Bridge of Walls, Lerwick, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 12. LEWIN, JOSEPH (40), Lieutenant, HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of William Lewin, of Douglas, Isle of Man, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 13. MAIN, JOHN (24), Deck Hand (no. 7724DA), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Main, of 12, Shorehead, Stonehaven, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 14. MCGRATH, THOMAS (30), Leading Seaman (no. 41578), D S M, HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of John and Mary McGrath, of 3, Phillip St., Waterford; husband of Annie McGrath, of 19, Waterside, Waterford, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial 15. NURSE, ROCHFORT , Deck Hand (no. 9741DA), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 16. RALPH, GEORGE (42), Second Hand (no. 2441C), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of George and Margaret Ralph, of Nairn; husband of Georgina Ralph, of 14, Society St., Nairn, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 17. REID, DAVID , Deck Hand (no. 7857DA), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 18. REID, JOHN (26), Trimmer (no. 4784TS), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of John and Margaret Reid, of Aberdeen; husband of Henrietta Reid, of 30, East North St., Aberdeen, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 19. ROBINSON, GEORGE WILLIAM , Skipper, HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 20. STUART, GEORGE SELLAR , Engineman (no. 711V), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 21. TAIT, WILLIAM (19), Deck Hand (no. 1075L), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, °1897 ~ †20/07/1917, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 22. TERRELL, ROBERT JOHN (43), Leading Seaman (no. 1593D), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of the late Capt. Henry Terrell, of South Shields; husband of Jane Terrell, of 61. John Williamson St., South Shields, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 23. TOMPKINS, RICHARD (47), Engineman (no. 468V), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Son of William and Kathleen Tompkins, of Aberdeen; husband of Jessie Tompkins, of 151, Victoria Rd., Torry, Aberdeen, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 24. TUCKER, EDWARD STANLEY (25), Deck Hand (no. 7763DA), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of C. and R. Tucker, of 433A, Hessle Rd., Hull, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial 25. WOOD, JOHN WILLIAM (21), Deck Hand (no. 9735DA), HMT Robert Smith, Royal Naval Reserve, †20/07/1917, Son of William and Mary Wood, of 25, Havelock St., Hessle Rd., Hull, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?177115
